I am building a spinning rod with Fuji VSS reel seat and Sk2 hidden thread nut. Have the NFC Carbon grips. Read somewhere that the ATC Matte fore grip sleeve matches the NFC grips nicely and they are a great match.

My problem is my blank OD is 13.6mm and the inner sleeve ID Is 18.7mm. I need to find something that will take up the 5mm but still allow the hidden thread nut to turn (so no rod bond ramp). Any ideas?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/14/2023 09:17PM by Kevin Fiant.

Here is another pic. They don’t show the gap very well but hopefully you get the idea.

Without the insert the ID of the ATC Carbon (outer) Sleeve is 22.8mm. I need some kind of winding check that I can securely fasten to sleeve that isn't tight on blank and still allows me to connect sleeve to the Hidden Thread nut...



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/14/2023 09:18PM by Kevin Fiant.

I assume you have the NFC 1K VSS soft touch CF grip, since the AmTac 3K matte CF hood sleeve is a perfect match for it. To take up some of the space between the blank and the hood sleeve opening I’ve used the Baston Forecast aluminum winding check. It’s OD matches the OD of the size 16 reel seat barrel and thus extends the reel seat OD a little further out so the gap is much less noticeable. You size the ID of these winding checks to match the OD of the blank. If not a perfect ID match get the size larger ID. These winding checks don’t ream very well. If you don’t want to use the aluminum winding checks they are also come in rubber, which will stretch to fit the blank.
[getbitoutdoors.com]

If you use the NFC 3K VSS soft touch grip, Fuji makes a CF matte twill hood sleeve which is a perfect match for the 3K seat. This CF hood sleeve (CTC223M) allows you to use the Fuji perfect fit base ring (BR212) and cap ring (CR24). The cap rings come in different hole sizes (12, 14, and 16mm) to fit the blank and thus reduces the gap between the cap ring and the blank. Unfortunately, the AmTac CF hood sleeve doesn’t work with the Fuji perfect fit trim parts.
Norm

Thanks Norm for the response. I thought I had ordered the NFC 1K soft touch grips but they are the 3K. So, going to give the Fuji perfect fit sleeve, base ring, and cap ring a go. Will save the AmTac Sleeve for a future build. Once I get everything together will post another picture so that any others who might be wondering will know what finished product looks like. Thanks.

Kevin, the Fuji CF hood sleeve CTC223M can be hard to find. Check with Voodoo rods they might have them. They also have trim parts from Matagi, as well as Fuji perfect fit trim. If you can’t find the CF hood sleeve let me know, I have some extra.
Norm

Kevin - We keep both the Fuji & Matagi options that can accomplish what you are trying to achieve. Send me an email if you would like help putting something together - voodoorods@cox.net

[voodoorods.com]

[voodoorods.com]

VooDoo Rods Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Kevin - We keep both the Fuji & Matagi options
> that can accomplish what you are trying to
> achieve. Send me an email if you would like help
> putting something together - voodoorods@cox.net
>
> [voodoorods.com]-
> -trim
>
> [voodoorods.com]
> -top-ring-for-kdps16

Thanks - I already have my order placed with you to finish out the hidden sleeve hood along with a few other goodies. Only thing I could not find on your website was the Fuji cap ring piece (looks like you only have the 16mm ID and 14mm works better for my blank). I went ahead and ordered that piece elsewhere. Voodoo Rods has been great to work with thus far as I'm just getting into the Rodbuilding Hobby. I've had multiple orders already with you. I really appreciate the quick processing of orders and the super easy wholesale program. Great for a newbie like myself. Thanks Voodoo Rods!

What color cap ring did you order? I have some size 14 mm cap rings for the SK2 hidden thread hoods.
Norm

Norman Miller Wrote:
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> What color cap ring did you order? I have some
> size 14 mm cap rings for the SK2 hidden thread
> hoods.
> Norm

I ordered the black and gold. If you have an extra and will be at Expo I could pick it up from you there if that works? I won't get around to finishing rod until after Expo anyway. Thanks Norm!

I’ll be there, but sorry I don’t have the black and gold cap ring; do have black and silver, black and red, and silver.
Norm

Thanks for checking Norm. I've got the gold/black on order so no worries. Shipping is as much as the part but I'm committed at this point :)

Looking forward to 1st Expo and hopefully seeing/meeting some of the faces behind the names of many of the helpful people that are on this forum. Thanks again!

Norm thanks again for the update and the parts matching.

I bought several of the 3k soft grip to try out. I wish they had the VSS17 in soft touch as well as matching fore grips and fighting butts. The grips do feel nice. The casting are a bit on the thin side, same with the fly, probably suited best for 6 and under.

Seems the new trend is the eva transition on many of the CF grips. I know CF can require careful reaming, but on an expensive fly blank, there is no way I am using eva, so back to cork for me. I’ll look at the Fuji transition rings again as I am compiling another order for Voodoo

I prefer the NFC soft touch IPS grips over their VSS16 soft touch grips. Even though they both use size 16 seats the IPS grip has a larger OD, which is quite similar to what a VSS17 seat/grip would be, This OD is about 27 mm, so it is quite comfortable to hold. Concerning the EVA winding checks that come with the soft touch grips, I have reamed them to fit some smaller diameter blanks, but for the most part I replace them with the AmTac aluminum winding checks for the G2 grips. They fit perfectly, and give a good finished look to the grips, but you have to match their ID with the blanks OD, and they are a little heavier.
Norm

If anyone is curious or might find this helpful here is a annotated photo showing all the parts after they are fitted up. Still have some thread work to do in between the split grips to tie in the gold color. Thanks to all who offered some assistance with this thread.

[www.dropbox.com]